Nutrition & Dietetics: Coordinated Program Mission, Goals & Outcomes

All Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited programs must meet certain basic requirements. One such requirement is that the Coordinated Program (CP) clearly states its mission, goals, and expected program outcomes. This outcome data collected is used to maintain or improve the program effectiveness.

Mission

The Mission for Marywood University Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is to provide a broad based educational curriculum that includes preparation in the liberal arts as well as coordinated nutrition/dietetic theory and practice, which is based on ACEND Foundation Knowledge and Competencies with a concentration in Health Promotion and Wellness. This educational framework provides the knowledge, skills, and values required to practice as competent entry-level dietitians/nutritionists, but also for the flexibility which permits changing roles and the development of skills needed for future specializations, which the students wish to pursue.

Goals & Outcomes

Goal

#1 To provide quality didactic and supervised practice learning experiences that prepare students to be competent entry-level dietitians.

Outcomes

1. Eighty percent of students enrolled in the Coordinated Program will complete all program requirements within 3 years.
2. Over a five-year period, 70% or more of CP graduates who sought employment in dietetics will be employed within three months of program completion.
3. Over a five-year period, the pass rate for CP graduates taking the registration examination for the first time will be at least 80%.
4. On senior program self evaluations, > 90% of the Learning Outcomes will be selected as at least moderately effective generating a mean value of > 3.0. (competent)
5. On the post completion preceptors’ survey, > 90% of the preceptors will state that the Coordinated Program compared favorably to other supervised practice programs.
6. On the one-year postgraduate evaluations, 90% of the respondents will indicate that they would recommend Marywood University.
7. On the one-year post completion employer survey, 90% of the Learning Outcomes will have mean value of 3.0 or greater.

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Goal

#2 To prepare graduates to be successfully employed in their fields, attend graduate school, or pursue other career options.

Outcomes

1. On the five year post graduate survey, 80% will be professionally employed or enrolled in an academic program.
2. 100% of the students will present an acceptable professional portfolio and a course binder after each completed Supervised Practice (SP) course.
3. 100% of the CP students will develop and implement at least one health promotion/ wellness program (e.g., a health fair, health promotion screening, diabetes treatment, weight management program, etc.)